tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-284879552018-05-29T11:50:56.135+05:30Mind over grey matterWelcome to the world of confusing convictions.
A nostalgic to the core, stuck in history am trying hard to find my way in the jungle called civilization.Stambhithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570725231480312393noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28487955.post-35697154441991646692010-01-19T10:04:00.004+05:302010-01-19T10:15:06.097+05:30Historical perspective...<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///D:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cstsac955%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">It would have been a good discussion in the hindsight to compare chalk with cheese. As we flip through the history of Mughals in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>, we are overburdened by the theory of Aurangzeb’s responsibility as a villain in Indian history. However, wouldn’t it be interesting to understand the gradual fall of the empire and therefore the extra burden on Aurangzeb to overturn that? Indeed, it has been discussed in some cases that the great Sahjahan (a great reason for our foreign currency) was in more than one ways as much responsible as was his fallen son. The myopic and contemporary view could be the biggest Achilles hill for history but for it’s over reaching totality.</p><div> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">During Sahjahan’s regime, revenues came down sharply; administration was in shambles and notwithstanding his famous love, the greatest monument in world history could not possibly pass him as a great administrator. Such were the inherited circumstances for his son who undoubtedly was a religious bigot and hence probably a mismatch in a pluralistic <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>. But most of the history books never judge him in totality. Similar is the case with <st1:place st="on">Bengal</st1:place> politics and its two politicians in particular.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">The first one started with a world of possibilities yet finished as a popper, while the second one bore the brunt of predecessor’s follies and hence became a failure. Just as Sher Shah Suri was more than an able administrator for Akbar, so was the case with these two people albeit in opposite manner. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Without a doubt that both of them fought a battle against their contemporaries, the task is more Herculean for the later as he inherited a more volatile and angry subject, which is looking for avenues to outburst. The cultivated mediocrity and nepotism is more dangerous in the sense that it wipes out able leadership, makes no incentive for better alternative and never inspires to challenge the inevitable. And that is precisely why I feel more sympathetic against the general wisdom of historical judgment.</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">A heritage of historical blunders is a difficult task for an honest administrator to make up.</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">He inherited the kingdom when everything was possible; he chose to be the last because it suited his political class. He never allowed comparison as it would have dwarfed his own legacy and he closed all windows of knowledge as it could have challenged his supremacy. Alas! He could have changed it the way everybody wanted; instead he blamed all others in conspiring his defeat. In choosing the rural population to be the craftsmen of his beloved monument he created history only for the consumption of a select few and maybe, unintentionally started the downfall of the empire.
<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">The trouble for the inheritor was this insurmountable inertia. Inertia of inaction, inertia of self defeating knowledge, inertia of stability. To challenge <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Newton</st1:place></st1:city>’s first law is not possible even in Marx’s dictionary. In spite of the best efforts, the inheritor was destined to be a loser, not by choice but by decree. A decree which was pronounced long before he came; only he accelerated it by childish mistakes.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Sometimes you survive even after murdering someone; sometimes you get screwed because someone just saw you hiding the obvious. Such is the short sightedness of historians that Sahjahan escaped the whole wreath by hiding under his wife’s monument which unfortunately crushed his son’s economical future.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">This is not to justify the religious bigotry of Aurangzeb, neither to exemplify the ability of the second person than his predecessor, but only to say that sometimes we do make mistakes in judging personalities.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Those who could rise above their contemporary are called great; those who accelerate their progress than their peers are called excellent while those who choose to hide under historical blunders are the same themselves.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">You create history by writing them on your own, not following. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">In my view, even in failure the honest <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Trier</st1:place></st1:city> should be judged more favorably for his sheer tenacity for action, for his passion to change things even if they became a Waterloo for the regimen.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">May be, as always, I am wrong again.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">And may god allow the already depleting minority to rest in peace. Amen!</p> Stambhithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570725231480312393noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28487955.post-82404642686664740422009-12-22T12:40:00.002+05:302009-12-22T14:18:25.435+05:30UnbelievableNow that it has been conclusively proven that communism and right wing activism could reflect an amicable match for the long run, the ideological barrier would be even thinner.<p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I, for one, always thought of communism and capitalism as different faces of the same coin, separated only by their thin and veiled ideological difference. Now, as physics would say, it is always an unstable equilibrium if you try to balance a thin coin on its rolling side rather than putting one face up. This then, for me describes the antipathy for each other. You could hate it, but to dispose it off totally would mean to dispose off the entire coin. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">As with all isms and dogmas, the substance is always lost in details and petty fights over ideological higher ground. The same applies to this also. The success rate of capitalism is higher because of its larger number of applications. And to top that, the eternal proverb of “power corrupts people, absolute power corrupts absolutely” could always use communists as the best example. People might find some exceptions, but then, argument would be “exceptions prove the rule”.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">On a less serious note, capitalists don’t realize that they are easy preys. The biggest disadvantage that any theist has is the fear of losing the faith of god or religion. The capitalist fears the loss of wealth, either materially or physiologically. Hence, with a little bit of calculation, they could be won over. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I am not at all surprised that it took a communist to ultimately win the battle.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">To be honest, you would always require a matchbox and a match stick to ignite a spark and in the event of failure, it is not always the stick which is at fault. It becomes easier to blame the stick and throw it away as it has a lesser shelf life, hence lower ROI. And the winner takes it all.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">P.S1: Very happy that some really good things are happening and communists are at the forefront (no pun intended).</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Politically the war might have been lost; the social battle might just be able to reinvigorate it.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">P.S2: The only problem with communists is that they are the most predictable non conformist.</p>Stambhithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570725231480312393noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28487955.post-25858626122777448422009-10-30T17:26:00.001+05:302009-10-30T17:29:52.469+05:30To be or not to be<div align="justify">To be able to survive is a wonder in itself. To be able to come out of a fiasco is a mere footnote in the bigger journey called life.<br />Yet we get so engrossed about such things that when they actually play out in our domain, we kind of become blind and oblivious to the outer world. We do not respond to the outer stimulus and behave like a dead body, frozen in time and sensibilities.<br /><br />We are a living body with a dead soul. We all are. Ok.Before all of you protest that you are not, ask yourself when was the last time you had smiled or cried when you were not directly affected by the events. Sounds mad? I don’t think so. It only sounds sympathetic.<br />Remember Prometheus? The Greek titan who stole fire from Zeus and gave it to the mortals? We need more of him and not of grandeurs.<br /><br />We are all consumed with the challenge of making our life a better one. We are so occupied by the unknown future that the present is always a miss. We are a product of so many sacrifices and voluntary services and we take them for granted. We always demand gratitude for services which we never paid when we were at the receiving end of that. Yet we call ourselves rational, intelligent and justified.<br /><br />These days there are no childhood, because there is no child anymore. All are either a well oiled machine or a bunch of crap. Nobody wants a human, all want successful cheerleaders.<br />Sounds unapologetic? Pessimistic? Copy cat?<br />If only life could give us a second chance! Even we take chances also for granted!<br /> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><em>Dedicated to souls like me who were in deep trouble and continues to be in (not in a way that world understands).</em></div>Stambhithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570725231480312393noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28487955.post-85085601467369228002009-01-16T21:24:00.001+05:302009-01-16T21:26:21.741+05:30An angry sahensha...<div style="text-align: justify;">Note - views expressed here are personal and in no way does the writer envisage this to be taken as a critically proclaimed debate. The writer also otherwise, expresses high respect for the people mentioned directly or indirectly in this post.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">To equate popularity with quality always borders on the contempt about the gross negligence meted out to genius creativity. And with due respect to everybody, some recent remarks about the movie “Slumdog Millionaire” falls in that category.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">It is of no wonder that Bollywood continues to be ignored at almost all major awards ceremony and yet they keep crying hoarse about such behavior without looking into the merit of such actions. It also smacks of childish nonsense to invoke national pride for such ignorance. To make such allegations without taking into account the reasons could only mislead the huge followers.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">To be very honest, any true follower of world cinema would agree that around the globe, this medium speaks only one language – and that is about creative brilliance which is not only original in its presentation but also exceptional in all creative forms associated with the movie making. And in that sense, without falling prey to jingoistic nationalism, Bollywood movies pale out as a distant “also ran”. It is not that we do not have momentary brilliance, but we lack cinematic culture and nuances to understand such a language.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">A great movie could always be popular, but the argument is not always true in other way.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Some unwanted comments about Ray’s movies being given better recognition only showcase complete ignorance. A master story writer himself, Ray not only engineered the art of movie making, but brought a complete package of complex emotional, musically superior and vividly refreshing collage. In fact, to counter the point about reality, movies which were made out of fantasies by him turned out to be even better in terms of cinematic jurisprudence. To claim an escapist colorful massala equivalent to a creatively made biriyani does not speak highly about the speaker’s intelligence.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">A good movie (not a preconceived mass entertainer) would definitely contain an excellent script, wonderful soothing music (not song, unless it is absolutely necessary) and creative cinematography. Alas, barring a few ones, Bollywood is yet to understand such logic. It requires a literary mind and a knowledgeable head to understand the length and depth of any movie to be made.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">A movie keeping everyone in mind could only be a commercial hit, but it would be wrong to expect favorable critic review for the same.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">With all its positives and negatives, Bollywood has its own market and target segment and which unfortunately does not determine the prestigious awards. Till such times when they understand the language of the world cinema or money power forces nominations (which, to an extent, could might as well be true now), Bollywood has to be contend with off the track retrospectives or television coverage catering the NRI audiences.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">But, to accuse others about their high handedness in not recognizing some pot boiling massala entertainer as a narration of cinematic language only opens up the Pandora’s box. It smacks a case of grapes being too sour.</span><br /><br /><br /></div>Stambhithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570725231480312393noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28487955.post-47559674195744137272009-01-10T23:50:00.004+05:302009-01-12T17:15:13.206+05:30Hey Ram...<div style="text-align: justify;">The recent Satyam fiasco is nothing new to the corporate world and neither would it be the last. Even though I am not so sure about my credentials to talk about financial and capital market models, in my view, the race for an attractive valuation in the stock market has definitely played a hand for the promoters to indulge in such a heinous crime. When an entity like the Satyam falls, it’s not the falling empire that is a headache, but the collateral damages that disturb the society, both socially and financially. In case of Satyam, it is the same with approx 53000 employees and innumerable investors (especially retail investors).<br />The situation is not so new to the corporate world at large, but definitely new to the Indian set up. For India Inc, which is fiddling around to take future bigger steps, such a shock could never have come up at a worse time. Indeed, with current credit crunch and bleak economic situation, it could ill afford to have such a blot in its kitty. However, in my view, such a thing was waiting in the wings even though we hardly acknowledge it.<br />The relation and the control between the promoters and the companies in India are indeed too close for comfort. The idea of company as an individual entity is more of a legal status than a real one and hence, the dangers of personally motivated irregularities are high. The public perception about some of the listed companies and their managements are not positive, even though they enjoy heavy influences on our capital markets. The idea of corporate governance, peer audits or independent board of directors enjoy tremendous challenges in a country where corruption is amok and the unholy nexus between political parties and the corporate czars are very open secret.<br />However, it would be unfair to paint the whole system with same brush even though there are hardly any dividends for being honest in India.<br />There will be Satyams in future also, make no mistake about this. Make no mistake of the fact also that all political dishonesty would be very cleverly submerged by the government, even though the role of Andhra politicians across the board and their hobnobbing with the now disgraced Raju family was very evident till a few days before. Never mind that Maytas got such eye candy infrastructure projects without proper procedures being followed and same political parties were very sure about their success.<br />And then there is the role of external auditors. I can bet about the images that people have for the CAs in general. The propensity to lie and pile up illegal money is so rampant in this country and amongst common public that a few dishonest CAs become very handy to cover up such illegal activities. In that sense, what Raju has done might be a crime only bigger in proportion and effect but not strange to India. From not declaring all income sources to finding ingenious ways to hide wealth from tax collector’s preying eyes are commonplace among Indians.<br />So, instead of blaming Raju and making a culprit out of him we would be better off if our simple acts are put under the scanner of right and wrong. The effect and magnitude of the crime could only make a variation in the punishment meted out, but could not differentiate in the category.<br />Hence, if one such confession could make some positive changes within our minds, be it personally or professionally, it would do a huge service for this whole country. And as for the corporate India, this incident could well be a turning point in their hitherto unknown challenges.<br /><br />We, as retail investors in both capital and social markets, could only hope for the better senses(x).</div>Stambhithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570725231480312393noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28487955.post-80072471543648090872008-11-11T17:40:00.004+05:302008-11-12T08:15:34.809+05:30A Bradmanesque end...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hgRuztCusJw/SRl2qI8iO_I/AAAAAAAAEJU/ZOQBuxuW0pQ/s1600-h/SG.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 190px; height: 132px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hgRuztCusJw/SRl2qI8iO_I/AAAAAAAAEJU/ZOQBuxuW0pQ/s200/SG.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267371705514474482" /></a><br /><br />Disclaimer: This post is not to be read in the context of cricket. Views expressed in this blog are purely non judgmental and has nothing to do with cricketing ring tones.<br /><br />Cricket lovers around the world would pause and move on. If you are an Indian cricket fan, please wait, cherish and look back with grace and respect. <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">But, if you are a Bengali, shed a few tears.</span><br /><br />I am not being a regional divider, neither am I trying to sound like a Ganguly fan. But, people outside Bengal would never be able to realize the importance of this man simply because of the emotion he evoked every time he crossed the boundary. It’s not easy to be an icon and that too for around 700 million Bengalis who starved for an icon, leave alone any sports person. In these 13 years, he has remained the idol looked through every charismatic glass. Whenever those drives flew from his bat, his square cuts kissed the rope or his sixes ridiculed the enormity of the stadium – somewhere in our heart we felt a satisfaction. It is hard to convey the ecstasy and the joy of a population so devoid of their own leader. And, hence this person, with his entire unbengali attitude has given hope to people who dares to dream of something new. <br />To put into perspective, Sourav’s contribution to cricket is the story of a rebellion, of a player who represented those who never thought of coming to the limelight, of those who always stopped at the closed door, never broke it open. It might not give birth to another Sourav, but it would definitely inspire a lot more of them to dare to dream the unthinkable. It’s an irony that he represented Bengal because none of his character and skill is like normal Bengalis. His fight, never say die attitude, rebellion nature – everything defies the goody-goody intellectual typecast of a Bengali. And that’s why he is so dear to every Bengali’s heart. It’s through him that they fulfilled their dream, it’s his shots that gave them the power and it’s his captaincy that reminded us that once upon a time, we used to lead the whole India – both politically and academically. In a sense, it is poignant that another person form the same region has taken over the mantle of this fight – to see that regionalism is no more a feature of Indian cricket.<br /><br />I am not a Ganguly fan, but I respect his contribution both to Indian cricket and to Bengalis in general. Being a Bengali, I can’t help but support him, shout for him and I do it because I find a sense of joy while seeing him ridicule others. His fight inspires me and I hope it inspires Bengalis worldwide. On a day when he is leaving the stage, it would be a fitting farewell if we could follow his path.<br />As a cricketer he never got the due. He neither had the genius of Sachin, nor had the technique of Rahul. He converted many a player into match winners, yet never looked for support. He is neither as dare devil as Shewag nor as artistic as VVS. Yet it’s him who is associated with the best of all of them. A few years down the line, when he would casually watch India playing, he would be proud to see his selections bearing fruit. People will remember Dhoni, Harbhajan, Yuvraj or Zaheer – yet we should be proud that somehow a Bengali who was thrown out of the team on numerous occasions and who made more enemies than friends was responsible for this future.<br /><br />On this day, after watching him play for so long, the next time I see a team India list, I would feel a lump. But, as all good things come to an end, so is Ganguly. For most of the Bengalis (barring a few) he would be above all others, including one Mr. Tendulkar, because his contribution to our conscious could never be judged through statistics. <br />He is to Bengal was Bradman was to Australia in post WW 2 period.Stambhithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570725231480312393noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28487955.post-29777849579250736552008-09-16T00:20:00.005+05:302008-09-16T00:36:32.270+05:30And here goes SCG ! ! !<span style="font-style:italic;">Now that the whole of India has already started writing obituaries about him, it is not so important to again start the debate afresh. Also, me coming from the same region, this will always be viewed through the stained glass. However, me being me, it would be imprudent to think that silence could be the answer in such cases.</span><br /><br />Time and again, there have been innumerable examples of things which could have been done differently in another country. However, India being India, and political or emotional prejudices taking precedence over rational thinking, it is pretty much of no use to inculcate such practices into those so called “wise men” of Indian cricket.<br /><br />Since, they talk about statistics, then use them to see a few things in perspective – <br /><br />Player Matches Total runs Aggregate C/w<br />Sachin 10 727 45.43 5/0<br />Rahul 13 754 34.27 23/0<br />Laxman 13 917 50.94 12/1<br />Sourav 13 1076 44.83 7/4<br /><br />So, it is not because of his primary responsibility that he could be asked to look for other avenues of entertainment.<br /><br />The next and the most potent weapon used against him are his attitude and ability to add something extra to the team. Recent newspaper reports (if they are to be believed), state that both captain and the national coach were of the view about him being sort of liability who could be dispensed with keeping others untouched. From the time he took the center, he was known to be less of an athlete who could hold onto his place because of his other abilities. So, this allegation is not new. What is news to me was that others were still adding value even tough all were failing with their primary responsibility. Or in short, auxiliary activities saved the other famous people rather than their main one. Let’s take one by one, including captain who has past his hay days long back.<br /><br />Sachin – Most agile of the famous five, even at this ripe age he could throw and field with satisfactory results. So what if most of the times, a dive results in injuries, so what if bowling in test cricket has never been his forte, so what if he remains more time outside the team rather than in it because of non cricketing reasons. I have never seen a single time when a doctor has declared him unfit, even if he visibly is. Now in our case, sachin should never be judged with the same yardstick applicable to others. Also, he alone could be irreplaceable because of his past records, others, if they speak such things could invite “logical responses from youth brigade”.<br /><br />Rahul – “Mr. Dependable” as he is favorably known, is finding it hard to protect his stumps and really struggling to match up to his own standard. His average has been on the lower side among the fab four and his fielding in slips has started to waver. He has missed quite a few of the catches, some of them simple enough to gobble up. He was never a good fielder in the outfield, and hence, his agility was more dependent on his reflexes. Now that thing is found wanting, the only reason of his choice is…<br /><br />Laxman – Most elegant, youngest of the lot and possibly the most unfortunate not to be a permanent man in the team. The most consistent performer over the last couple of years especially under most troubled condition, he is surely the best bet against the mighty Aussies, and given his record against kangaroos, he is surely indispensable. However, his fielding and running between the wickets has always been under scanner and hence, only his batting could save him. He is the most unfortunate cricketer to have played for India and given the circumstances, he might be in line after Sourav.<br /><br />Kumble – One of the coolest people on field, however, his efficacy as a bowler was always under question, especially away from home. However, over the past few series, he has been consciously trying to amend that record. If not as a bowler, then he could be also questioned in the same lines like Sourav, and who knows what is there in future, especially when it concerns Indian cricket.<br /><br />Given all the above, I am still unable to see the neutral rational behind dropping him even though he was the only one who forcefully came back in the most unusual circumstances and since then performed to silence all critics. It was probably his outspoken behavior, his neutrality to all camps and his past which stood against him in the long run. If a chance is given, then what happens if he performs? We could be assured of the failures of the others, but not of this man. No circumstances or no adversity could bring him down and at this juncture it would be logically foolish to provide him with a due place. Hence, the decision to drop him from squad.<br /><br />It was never to be that he was to get his due and respect once he stood against establishment. It was never in doubt that after he didn’t stand for any lobby, somebody would stand for him in troubled times. At times, you could feel his sadness of proving others wrong every time there is a finger pointed at him.<br />But, as is the saying, not everybody is lucky to get his/her due in one life. Probably is legacy lies in being SCG, the one and only person who belongs to his own class of royalty.Stambhithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570725231480312393noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28487955.post-9603228954821183662008-08-28T14:21:00.003+05:302008-08-28T14:58:47.381+05:30And I am a MBA ! ! !<div style="text-align: justify;">"The taste of the pudding is in eating" - only if every pudding could be tasted and rejected based on the report.<br />I was sold the MBA dream. Even now I am still not out of that dream. Now, I must confess that whosoever sold that dream to me (unfortunately I can't remember exactly the face) must by now have become some Sales head. Otherwise (s)he is not being utilized properly.<br /><br />Just a few minutes back I was brushing through a journal when an advertisement popped up. It detailed about a hotel (not even 5 star !). I found it as distant it was 3 years back as now. I am not sure what god damn degree I have hooked on to.<br /><br />I am still planning to have a good vacation at some place in India (Foreign vacation is as distant as the shore) - to my horror I realized I am woefully out of cash to sponsor it beyond 2 days ! Not sure if anything has improved after 2 years of slogging.<br /><br />A few days back, I was just wondering about the total cost of this degree. If we include opportunity cost (as is customary for any business plan) for the years spent inside campus, it would come close to 12 lacs without even considering fringe benefits.<br /><br />By now readers and all MBA aspirants should have started cursing me. The idea is not to demonize the dream, but just to ruffle a few feathers here and there. Now when I look back at such decisions I amaze at my consuming capability !<br /><br />I was just curiously listing down the couldn't things post MBA, and believe me it became scary -<br /></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>I can't work as a techie</li><li>I can't think of a pressure less life any more</li><li>I can't accept any job offer that comes my way (see I have a brand to sell)</li><li>I still can't afford to stay in Taj or in an exotic resort</li><li>I am still not a frequent flyer in any of the airlines</li><li>And god damn it, even now, I have to think twice to sponsor myself for a flight to see my parents !</li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />I was just calculating the benefits of doing MBA !<br />But to be fare, I had got a wonderful campus life, some wonderful friends and some enchanting views about life.<br />Alas ! all these are intangibles and as our dear prof used to say - "only cash in hand is the proof of liquidity".<br />Am I still so illiquid in the market as I was 3 years before?<br />Only if the taste of the pudding could be done earlier.<br /></div>Stambhithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570725231480312393noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28487955.post-508541208416972072008-03-04T20:51:00.009+05:302008-03-05T15:47:27.493+05:30Chak diya INDIA ??<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hgRuztCusJw/R84xUoo1b5I/AAAAAAAACI4/2o9-53es54A/s1600-h/Gilli.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174127252471115666" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hgRuztCusJw/R84xUoo1b5I/AAAAAAAACI4/2o9-53es54A/s200/Gilli.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hgRuztCusJw/R84xU4o1b6I/AAAAAAAACJA/pk6HgPqEAy0/s1600-h/sachin.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174127256766082978" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hgRuztCusJw/R84xU4o1b6I/AAAAAAAACJA/pk6HgPqEAy0/s200/sachin.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">“<i><u>Sorry mate, tough luck. Hope you take this pasting more sportingly than your team usually does. But at least your captain got it right – 3<sup>rd</sup> final wasn’t needed!</u></i>” – This was one of the SMSes that I got as soon as <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 /><st1:country-region st="on">India</st1:country-region> snatched up the historic win at <st1:city st="on">Brisbane</st1:city> to wrap up the CB Tri series by winning 2 consecutive finals against <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region>. There were so many firsts – winning a tri series down under, beating <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region> in 2 consecutive matches, winning a major final after almost 5 years, doing it without most of the big guns etc. And according to all Indian experts, in all probability the “dooms day” for the invincible Aussies has just arrived. I, like most Indians would love to believe so.</span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">Let’s put things in perspective first – I am not a patriotic by any stretch of imagination (at least not by any conventional ideas). I neither go overboard with Indian wins nor hide underground when we lose. And since we lose more often than we win, it doesn’t give me any extra satisfaction with such accidents.</span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">The whole of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> is against the Aussies (for whatsoever reasons) and I am not too sure about the reception that they would get in IPL sooner rather than late. Without even supporting what some of the opponent players did (or tried to do) I could easily say that by the same yardstick we are no Yudhistir. I don’t subscribe to what few of the Indian players viewpoint is and for BCCI to think of pulling out even before ICC came out with its verdict is nothing short of a shameless act as unpardonable as CA’s attitude throughout. After the <st1:city st="on">Sydney</st1:city> test, the whole of <st1:country-region st="on">India</st1:country-region> reacted in a way as if <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region> had only won because the on field umpires allowed them to do so. Just to give a reminder to my countrymen – not so long before Indian umpires were always questioned about their decisions and partisan behavior, and presently none of the elite umpires come from <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Also, the fact that we couldn’t manage to hold on to 72 overs of play with such a great line up, speaks volumes about our own credibility. So, let’s not debate over our opponent’s supremacy by just pulling out one single test match.</span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">Now, the CB series win. Without doubt, Dhoni and his boys have done a job which no one thought of even a month ago. I was quite amused to listen to Dhoni’s post match speech – the sort of stuff loaded with controversy. I was just thinking how 2 different people could view the performance of Sachin in 2 different ways – Dhoni justifying his team selection; older players pinching the point that it’s still the old horse who laughs last. Without doubt this brings the curtain on some of the most illustrious careers in Indian cricket and I only hope all the best for Dhoni and his boys in the future.</span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">But frankly speaking, what have <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> done? Records would suggest this win as an aberration, statistics would say wait a bit longer to find out the truth, yet 1 billion people would shout from rooftop to announce that we are here to dethrone the king! I couldn’t help but feel sorry for such followers. <st1:country-region st="on">India</st1:country-region> has a winning % of around 45, almost half that of <st1:country-region st="on">Australia</st1:country-region>, we have won only 1 WC so far compared to 4 for them; Ponting, Hayden, Clarke and Hussey would any day have a higher probability to tear <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> apart than a Rohit Sharma or a Gautam Gambhir. Yet we feel so proud to compare apples with oranges.</span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">Consistency is the key. To match <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region> we have to be consistent, we have to be ruthless, we have to have animal instincts like them (might not show them on field) and most importantly we have to make winning a boring habit. I remember the accolades that flew thick and fast when we chased down 325 in Natwest final and what happened after that. I just hope that Dhoni doesn’t follow the same route. Given the kind of adulation these players get here, it’s not impossible to lose out the sharpness and play everything except cricket. Dhoni could only save his respect from me by winning and winning consistently. Unless that happens, I don’t see how this win is going to help us in becoming the world champions.</span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">Last but not the least – one of the finest player ever to have graced the arena retired with a not so fairy tale ending. But at least he knew when to stop with head held high. Some of our icons don’t understand such logic before they get a kick on their a@#. Unless back door politics prevail, I doubt we could even get a proper farewell for the most precious jewel. But, I enjoyed his game, I enjoyed every moment of his entertainment and even though I reserve my judgment on his analysis, he would undoubtedly remain one of the finest ever thing to happen to world cricket.</span></p></div>Stambhithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570725231480312393noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28487955.post-76876658725065221332008-02-14T15:06:00.007+05:302008-02-14T15:25:51.900+05:30Happy Valentine's day<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Sample these (<a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Valentines_Day_market_size_Rs_1200-cr/RssArticleShow/articleshow/1606895.cms"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc33cc;">TOI</span></a>) –<br />The V-Day market in India is a whopping Rs.1200 crore. And by all estimates it’s growing at 20-25% rate YOY. It’s a serious cash cow for marketers who’re looking at fresh positioning planks to milk the occasion.<br />From Nokia to Airtel, from LG to HP to Microsoft, from Taj Jiva spa to financial services all are lining up to sell keeping in mind the unique choice of customers.<br />Luxury brands are growing at 8% rate, fashion apparels are using this occasion to bring out new outlooks and there is probably not a single line of business which could afford to miss the bus.<br />Also, there is a serious psychological threat to those who remain out of this lucrative pie. People with no or broken relationships face tremendous peer pressure, and psychologists or sociologists argue that it won’t be long before love becomes a necessary evil commodity in the economic market.<br /><br />For a person like me who has a keen interest in how economics and society shape up individual’s life (<em><span style="font-size:85%;">and even to the extent of antagonizing a few, I believe those are more powerful than religion</span></em>) – I just became a shade more curious to follow such articles. And hola!! I was not far from the truth.<br /><br />There have been questions galore about the cultural misfit, about the consumerism, about the hollowness of the celebration on this particular day – and about how it demeans our very own Indian cultural heritage. But somewhere all these arguments miss the central theme of such celebrations – the ecstasy of the mind.<br />Its not that I celebrate V-Day (<em>by choice or lack of it</em>) as most of the younger India do but, as one of the articles in a <a href="http://www.anandabazar.com/14edit3.htm"><span style="color:#cc33cc;">vernacular</span></a> says – at times often cliché things need to be expressed and celebrated.<br />But, my idea was not to debate about the vilification of V-day, instead the intriguing battle between human emotions and economics. In an increasingly globalized world where barriers are breaking down, yet distance between human minds are rapidly increasing, the business proposition of expression of love is too good to resist. Think of a conservative Muslim girl, or for that matter – a teenager from a low middle class family standing in front of such huge public display of love and thinking about the dream prospects. Now, to compound, if (s)he is in love then think of the appeal this makes. All around people are busy to express something as pure as love, yet this person feels out of that colorful world! And that is precisely how the appeal of this business is growing – breaking barriers of all economical and religious taboos.<br />To state the obvious, the more such intangibles the better for the marketers. <em>As MBA teaches us, you couldn't value intangibles</em>.<br /><br />Now, there was a thought that whether as a marketer one would want your beloved to be changed every year. Considering love is non perishable and post marriage the expressive nature diminishes, by all means to survive, the market size should increase. For that to happen there are only 2 possibilities – either influx of newer lovebirds or break up and reorganization of existing loving pairs. Since, the first is by no means capable of being influenced (<em>even though recent studies suggest that people are trying to fall in love due to increased peer pressure</em>), the second is the only solution. So, is being immoral in trying to push for break up helps in economical terms? Nobody could answer. Hence, the advertisers need to have this subtle approach – without gift love is not as great as it sounds and forget your past by concentrating on present or future. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">This serves both up selling as well as market penetration. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br />For once, a so called intellectual (<em>antel, in Bengali</em>) like me thought dead against of commoditization something as pure and emotional as love. But, probably there is something which we are ignoring which we are yet to realize. Everyday we are becoming a more rootless society, that every incremental power of independence is taking us away from being dependent, that being illogical is not equivalent to be in love and that by definition “sacrifice” never asks for return. Our mental bankruptcy is driving our materialistic hunger and at times even prostitution seems more moral than “being happy”.<br />However, there is hope till we die – as without hope we are left only with depths of loneliness. As economics triumph over all human emotions, as each and every moment of our lives become a commodity, as east and west fight over moral supremacy – my sincere wish is that we all come back and realize the starting point – that love should enrich us even in selfless sacrifice and materialistic expressions just remain a carrier of the internal message ------ </span><br /><em>“<span style="font-size:85%;">Amar o poran o jaha chaai, tumi taai tumi taai go;<br />Toma chaara e jogote mor keho naai, keho naai go..”</span><br /></em>(<em><span style="font-size:85%;">You are what my heart wants, and there is nobody else without you in this world for me</span></em>) </div>Stambhithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570725231480312393noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28487955.post-78134268463069462382008-01-15T13:00:00.000+05:302008-01-16T11:14:54.997+05:30Best of the lot - through my eyes and hearts - Part 2<div align="justify"><em><span style="color:#ffffff;">(</span><span style="color:#000000;">Do read the 1st part before this to get the complete picture)...</span></em></div><div align="justify"><em><span style="color:#000000;">--------------------------------------------------------------------</span></em></div><div align="justify"><em><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span></em></div><div align="justify"><em><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span></em></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">Pather Panchali (1955)</span></em> - It’s a poetry in motion. It’s a classic unfolded with all unknown beauties in front of dumb audiences. It transports you to the high of ecstasy, throws you out of gear with gripping reality and makes you cry with the characters. I have never come across any more such realistic portrayal in world cinema and to his credit Ray did this with minimum fuss or technology. To think that such a movie could be made in India is in itself a tribute to the great master and only he could think of such creation. If ever, a director were to be known as a single movie wonder then let it be a “Pather Panchali”.<br /><br /><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">Hirok Rajar Deshe (1980)</span></em> – Another masterpiece from my favorite director. To create a whole movie in limerick and poetry is unthinkable and to top it with such subtle idea about politics, democracy, education and society is impossible even for god. But, he did it! He did it with utmost ease, with grand passion and with childish entertainment. You could find all flavors in this movie – from a children fantasy to a dictatorial politics. The story is genius and is ably supported by cast, camera, editing and background score. You can’t expect anything more from a movie than this.<br /><br /><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">Do Bigha Zameen (1953)</span></em> – An ultimate and all time bollywood classic. I would be lying if I don’t mention this in my all time favorites. This Bimal Roy direction is a masterpiece in terms of the depiction of the characters, in terms of music, in terms of acting as well as in the eternal appeal of the story. If ever in India, the portrayal of poverty and fight of poor has ever been depicted, then this has to be a close winner (Even though “Sadgati” by ray, “Akrosh” etc come very close). The most famous scene from the movie is when Shambhu pushes himself to the limit pulling a rickshaw. The rider on the rickshaw offers Shambhu more money to pull faster because he is chasing (probably) his girlfriend in another rickshaw. Shambhu can not resist the temptation, and he keeps smiling in anticipation of getting more money. However, his wealthy customer is not worried the least about the lower class' plight. In this race, rickshaw loses a wheel and Shambhu is injured. However, through all these hardships Shambhu does not lose his righteousness, which is the moral of the movie. Shambhu's son steals money to help his father, only to be reproached by his father later. Shambhu's morality is the only thing that remains his own till the end.<br />And, if there is no morality left in the story then what is the fuss about the rest?<br /><br /><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">Seven Samurai (1954)</span></em> – This is nothing but a sheer brilliance. First time I saw it, it came as a shock, thereafter every subsequent viewing has brought out some magnificent artistry of cinema, the capacity to narrate a story, the idea of the most fantastic background score, the love, the hate, the illusion and the fight for respect. To accommodate all this in a single movie, the director had to be brilliant, the editing had to be extraordinary and the grip over audience unflinching. To its credit it has all these. Even now, after so many have tried to imitate or beat it, Seven Samurai remains a totally gripping 3.5 hour experience. Akira Kurosawa is one of the gods of Cinema - men who seem to have been born to make films, who have it in their blood.<br />If ever, an example of total cinema has to be given then choose this one without semblance of doubt – such is the magnitude of this.<br /><br /><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">Autumn Sonata (1978)</span></em> – Should I say that I should be proud that this was made in the year I was born? I take this as a gift of Bergman to me. Never before in my life did I imagine a movie with only 4 characters before this. I don’t know if “Morning Raga” comes as a close copy cat, but if that is then I must say bollywood should stop making such nonsense. Autumn Sonata is so intense in its emotions and so masterful in its presentation that the world of its characters—in this case an isolated, roomy parson's house in the south of Norway—absolutely overwhelms our senses and becomes for 92 minutes the only reality we can know. If ever, somebody has to be given a lesson of movie making, then just ask them to watch this – how to portray emotion, how to bring out the most unnerving ideas in reality and how with minimum dialogue and minimal characters we could have a masterpiece. The profundity of the writing, the acting, and the delivery of Autumn Sonata lies in its refusal, like that of a complex musical composition, to boil down to a single, unchallenged idea or emotion.<br /><br /><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">As good as it gets (1997)</span></em> – This poor cousin of the famous “Titanic” has always remained close to my heart – for its simplicity, for its weirdness, for its magnificent ideas to portray love and emotions and above all for its daring idea of releasing it alongside a blockbuster yet coming out with flying colors. I vividly remember the poor crowd response to this movie in Calcutta and after watching this I could only pity those who have missed this. Sometimes, you need to go out of the conventional way of stories and technologies – because as a movie watcher I could only take the feeling and emotion out of the theatre, not the technology, not the acting and certainly not over the moon flamboyance. I have never heard a better way of proposing, I have never heard a better complement that a man or a woman could give to the other sex. How I wish I had such moments in my life!<br /><br />As always, this might be the weirdest best 10 ever compiled, but in my mind they remain my best moments. They could transport me to the highs of emotions, to the depths of love and hatred, to the fantasies of childhood and to the darkest areas in life. If ever you don’t feel like being a character in the movie then it’s simply not worth watching for me. I pay for that connection, I thrive in that ecstasy and I would love to die in that dream. </div><div align="justify">That’s what a movie is for me.</div>Stambhithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570725231480312393noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28487955.post-38592322424194935262008-01-15T12:55:00.000+05:302008-01-16T11:13:38.991+05:30Best of the lot - through my eyes and hearts - Part 1<div align="justify"><em><strong>Disclaimer</strong></em>: This post is totally inspired by some similar posts and ideas from well known public sources. Hence, any such unmistakable similarities in terms of ideas or subjects are totally intentional. However, any such attempt to list the personal likings is always fraught with contentious or dubious selections. Hence, all comments would only be viewed through that prism only. More such lists from others are welcome. Also please note that the list is not in order of merit as I don’t think it’s good to rank the best.<br />--------------------------------------------------------------------<br />I am not a movie buff, at least I don’t consider myself neither knowledgeable nor qualified enough to list such things, but through this I would try to give an idea to what I do like and dislike in movies, why I am such a bollywood basher in most situations, and thereby why certain movies do qualify in my book as simply irresistible. Since, by perception (and mind you, “perception is everything”) I am a left leaning hence its quite natural that I place everybody at the same pedestal (classless society, you see) and so I won’t differentiate between bollywood, Hollywood or tollywood. This is about my own all time favorite top 10.<br /><br /><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">The African Queen (1951)</span></em> – This movie has one of the simplest yet unnatural stories that I have ever come across. With two powerhouse performances from Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart, this seamlessly touches my heart as it explores the beauties of what I call situational love. Given that technology was minimal and story doesn’t fit in any line of division this mesmerizes with it’s portray of love, affection, love for country and cinematography. The background score is in sync with the mood while the dialogues are outstanding. Watching this, I feel that how I wish I was in place of Humphrey so that such emotions could be expressed. Alas! I can only enjoy the masterpiece and praise it through such posts.<br /><br /><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">Citizen Kane (1941)</span></em> – This is another piece where you get engrossed with the flow of events, with the charming beauty of story narration. An expressionistic, fictional biography of the rise to power (and tragic fall) of a larger-than-life newspaper tycoon/publisher - Charles Foster Kane. A reporter is sent to investigate the significance of "Rosebud," the last word uttered by Kane (Welles), through interviews with various associates and his wife (Cotten, Sloane, and Comingore). With its bravura direction, broken narrative and flashbacks, and vivid performances, this is considered a modern masterpiece. Every aspect of the production marked an advance in film language: the deep-focus, deeply shadowed cinematography; the discontinuous narrative (in a screenplay co-authored by Herman Mankiewicz); the innovative use of sound and score; the low-level camera shots; the ensemble acting from Welles' Mercury Theater.<br /><br /><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">City Lights (1931)</span></em> – What should I say for Chaplin! I am honored that at some point of time there was this genius in movie making, this man who never uttered a word on screen yet portrayed the most difficult expressions with utmost ease and entertained us lifelong. This film is a classic silent masterpiece (with sound effects). In the opening sequence, the urban misfit (his quintessential "Little Tramp" character) parodies 'talking' films. In the city, the tramp (Chaplin) falls in love with a blind flower-selling girl (Cherrill), and although poverty-stricken, he is mistaken for a millionaire. If love is what is depicted here, then I would die 100 times for such love. If this is not romance then what is!</div><div align="justify"><br /><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">The Godfather (1972)</span></em> – No list of movies is ever complete without mentioning this all time classic. The drama, the dialogue, the script, the background score – you name it and godfather has it. Here is bravura, genre-defining, epic-length Mafia/gangster classic that evokes the mid and late 1940's period with powerful character development, lighting, costumes, and settings. The film follows the fortunes of the fictitious Corleones, a powerful Mafia family with its own family rituals and separate code of honor, revenge, justice, law and loyalty that transcends all other codes. If I were to ever acknowledge Al Pacino’s contribution to world cinema, I could stop only at Godfather. Even people do argue that the book is better in terms of story telling, I found enough evidence of a masterpiece in this creation.</div>Stambhithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570725231480312393noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28487955.post-81471840808381621762008-01-01T11:22:00.000+05:302008-01-01T11:27:44.679+05:30Specially imperfect<div align="justify">Imperfection makes one special. At least that’s what my thinking of human beings has shaped up over the years. Even in the most unbelievable world of rules in physics – there are wonders when there are imperfections and deviations. Had it not been for a matter losing some of its mass, we won’t ever have realized the enormous power of atom. The issue of whether atom bomb is good or bad is a topic of another debate, but in the process of losing mass and being imperfect, even the tiniest atoms release huge energy. And that’s precisely my point – in allowing people to be imperfect we are only opening up the potential of that energy to come out.<br />As I look back to the past year or past so many years, I realize how much time we have wasted in being perfect, in trying to make others perfect – and in doing so we have lost on both counts. Even in our epics and history we have only seen imperfect characters – yet always frowned upon the idea of opening Pandora’s Box. In the quest of being and making perfect human beings we have sacrificed not only the natural mind, but also the sharpness of unfounded energy.<br />Probably that’s why I wish – <em><strong>To everybody, his/her imperfection</strong></em>.<br />Imperfection allows that patch of breathing space, it gives the possibility of cultivating an uncluttered mind – and by allowing people to be imperfect we are only recognizing the diversity that is humane. The idea is not to stop looking for improvement, but to stop worrying being imperfect. Should the respect for imperfection become mutual, we could possibly purify so much of bad blood.<br />History is full of such incidents. The great Asoka won’t have been the same without being imperfect in initial life, most of the artists are imperfect in their lives and so are many more examples. A rose is imperfect in its thorns, a lion in its attitude and a baby in its dreams. Just by being that much lenient in accepting people with imperfection, we could foster a world full of love and hope.<br />What is true for an individual, is true for a relationship, is collectively true for a society and for a country. To personalize each and every short coming in others is possibly a practice which we are better off without.<br />As the New Year dawns on our life – I would love to make only this small resolution to myself – lets thrive in imperfection. And like most other resolution this might also just remain on paper, but who cares? Ultimately, the enjoyment of the game is only being imperfect.</div>Stambhithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570725231480312393noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28487955.post-29379115722293190892007-11-04T14:18:00.000+05:302007-11-04T15:17:20.507+05:30Unnecessary survival<div align="justify"><table id="HB_Mail_Container" height="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0" unselectable="on"><tbody><tr height="100%" width="100%" unselectable="on"><td id="HB_Focus_Element" valign="top" width="100%" background="" height="250" unselectable="off"><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Just as recent spat of words between UPA constituents regarding the nuclear deal and 1-2-3 agreement with United States seem to head towards a silent death, Pakistan, an important ally of Washington in "war against terror", plunged into the deep crisis of emergency. As I sit glued to the TV news channels to gather what’s happening across the border while guessing what might have happened in our own country during 1975 – I disturb myself with a more fundamental question.<br />Long back had Professor Darwin answered that when it comes to survival, only the fittest would be able to do so. But, neither he nor any sociologist till date has tried to pen down under what circumstances survival is necessary or to put it in different words – if there is a conflict between two survivals, which would be given the priority?</span></div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><div align="justify"><br />The best and most popular answer would be to say – to everybody self survival is of paramount importance, yet I doubt that such sweeping generalizations would make everybody happy. When an individual assumes a position of influence or power, when an individual represents an institution or when individuals remain bound by social contracts – my personal choice of surviving priority should go to the institution or the valid contract. Unless, <em>prima facie</em>, the system is at fault, it is of paramount importance that we, as individuals, respect the institutions more than personal independence.<br />That’s probably one of the reasons I have a liking of the way democracy functions in the west and not the way it is modeled in India. History shows that America has always valued independence fiercely yet has put institutions ahead of each and every discussion. We have been historically dependent on good kings and kingdoms and it’s not a surprise that India flourished under great kingdoms while plunged into depth when the ruler turned bad. Unlike Americans, who have bound themselves to the constitutions under the “Declaration of independence” on July 4th 1776, which till date remain supreme, we have only started experimenting post 1947.<br />In any democratic society, laws and institutions are of paramount importance and when the choice calls for an "either-or" situation, they remain front runners. Back here, we have dug ourselves into a difficult situation by trying to please everybody. Even though the individual freedom is of highest accord, we should argue for institutions and country ahead of everything else – be it religion, ideological hardships or personal losses. Sadly, that’s not been the situation and we still remain hostage to age old ideas of compartmentalized ideologies at the risk of putting the nation at shame. A PM or a President or any person representing the country should be more criticized if they fail to honor national commitments rather than risking a mid-term election.<br /><br />Indians, in general, are more prone to be influenced by stars or individuals rather than institutional ideas. Our choices are driven by star system; we put more emotional emphasis on the individual star or celebrity rather than the institution itself. Our cricket, our films, our history, our religion and even our politics is so individual driven that every dishonest and fallen celebrity poses grave threat towards the base. In democracy, everybody remain equal (and importantly, no one or no section is more equal than others) and we are yet to digest this simple truth. Changing a rotten system and fighting for a transparent administration is centrally justified, as long as it is not guided by the hogwash of charismatic individuals. In any democracy, the ultimate goal and good intentions are of paramount importance, and even at the risk of conflicting ideologies, we should respect the opposition as much as the popular ideas. Just like in any relationship, individuals should cease to be of less importance than the justified institutional ideas, and even though, all efforts should be made to guarantee individual independence, a successful partnership should ensure survival of democratic ideologies. In democracy, a less popular opposition is equally respected till such times when those opposing ideas run contrary to the democratic fundamentals of the country and constitution.<br />Under no circumstances should law be held hostage to popular emotions or whims and fancies of individual dynasty, neither laws should be framed with coveted biasness against genders or sections of societies and above all, a citizen must understand the importance of the fundamental fabric of this country.<br /><br />Just as we regret at the declaration of emergency in Pakistan we must ensure that back home, we honor the democratic fundamentals much more than individual freedom and when we discuss survival strategies, we could start with a more fundamental question – is survival every time necessary? Not every time, survival of individual is important and the biggest gift of democracy is the realization that defeat to an institutional idea is not the end of all independence. Our neighbours, to me, remains an example of how dangerous a flawed democracy could be and my fear is that, unless we change our attitude, we could head towards the same situation, albeit manifested in a different manner. Unless we prioritize our national and collective choices, we expose ourselves to a clash of egos, rather than of transparent ideas.<br />Then, nobody could be blamed for such a shameful end to a so called vibrant democracy, which probably juggles with more right ideas than it could handle.</span></div></td></tr><tr unselectable="on" hb_tag="1"><td style="FONT-SIZE: 1pt" height="1" unselectable="on"><div id="hotbar_promo" align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>Stambhithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570725231480312393noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28487955.post-43334376186159926632007-09-26T12:30:00.000+05:302007-09-26T12:37:39.039+05:30Devil's advocate...<div align="justify">As the whole country thunders and celebrates the win of young Indian team in the latest avatar of world cricket, so called “T20 championship”, probably it’s time to step back and relish this moment. True that such a moment comes rarely, especially in a country like ours with abundant talents and volatile temperaments. Even truer is the fact that we are perennially short of worthy national heroes who could inspire a generation to look forward with pride and self belief.<br />I am not a cricket pundit and hence wouldn’t go into technical details of how this could benefit our cricket and sport in general; neither would I think that this is a miniscule performance even if my attitude towards this new formed “tamashaa” has been hostile. But, I do reserve my comment about the potential of Indian cricket. The fact that these young boys jumped into adulthood with such poise and commensurate ease has pleased me beyond my expectations; Dhoni’s refreshing attitude towards captaincy, Yuvi’s daring shots while batting and Sharma’s poise in the death – should augur well for the future. If only we could manage to provide a supply network without congestion, a channel to harness temperament and a structure to fall back in distress – we could challenge the mighty Aussies in their own den. But, I am doubly sure that such things won’t happen in Indian sport, cricket in particular and hence this euphoria is short lived.<br /><br />I call the modern T20 version a use and throw format – where you live by the sword knowing that anyway your life is not precious, you play for the gallery because that’s what you aim for in this tourney, you pray only for a burst of brilliance as sustenance wouldn’t bring any extra laurel. So, there is absolutely no doubt that marketability of cricket would increase only at the expense of glory, stamina and perseverance – traits any sportsperson would vouch for. Cricket has never been a rival to soccer; neither has it been thought of as global as other sports because of its very nature. But, that has not made ICC a beggar; neither has it stopped countries from playing provided they get the infrastructure. Probably, ICC’s greed has overshadowed its responsibility towards the game and lured it into using players as mere pawns to generate revenue. They don’t bother about the sport as long as crowd says – “I’m loving it”.<br /><br />By now, majority of readers must be cursing me for being a spoilsport at such a joyous moment or even think of branding me anti national. I agree that I have always believed in giving sense precedence over emotions and personally I have always benefited.<br />What holds true for a singular collectively holds true for a nation also. Recent splurge of money into players coffers, attitude of governments in deciding the priority as well as drama of BCCI to grab attention in the glory of unexpected windfall – all these show a wholesale callousness prevailing in the society.<br />On Tuesday, 25th of September 2007, there were two news which were relegated to the second stage following India’s victory in T20 championship. The first one about a lady doctor being raped in a Delhi hospital and the second about the recent controversies in Pakistan and Thailand. Even if for argument’s sake I accord to the point that news of Indian team attracts more viewers than say events in Pakistan or Thailand, but I failed to get any excuse in the first case. Even horrific has been the reactions of government. There are two ways I look at it –<br />The government (starting from her highness to Delhi CM Ms Sheila Dikshit and honorable PM) is only trying to look around other way and fool people by giving money to cricketers who are rich anyway and at the same time abducting its responsibility towards providing safe society. The public has been equally guilty. There has been no protest whatsoever, no uproar in the parliament, no discussions on TV and total ignorance of priority. Delhi government has given 5 lakh each to Shewag and Gambhir, but not a single penny to the doctor who is in coma now.<br />The second is even more pertinent. T20 is not equivalent in stature to a World Cup and without dwarfing Dhoni’s achievements I can say that there is no sure winner in this format. Simply because, the format is such that everybody is vulnerable on a particular day. There was a proposal for BCCI (which is cash rich) to come out and support other sports to grow – but recent things don’t point in that direction. The players have been extraordinary, they have brought laurels for the country and I appreciate their work. There is a huge market for them where they would get more than what they want. But think of a player in chess, in badminton, in shooting, in weightlifting or for that matter in hockey. What is the attitude of Indian public towards such events? I am sorry to say, but ignorant Indians value T20 more than they value a gold or silver in Olympic – even though it is tougher to get the latter one. My memory fails to recollect such a welcome for – Rajyabardhan rathode, Karnam Malleswari, Leander Peas, Prakash Padukone, Bula Sen or even P.T Usha. Each of them has been great in their field but probably the only mistake they did was not to play cricket. The irony is, even a baseball player turned cricketer would earn more respect here than a champion swimmer or stylish badminton player.<br />And, I attribute this phenomenon of step motherly attitude to nothing but money and glamour. The hungry public only sees the dancing of money and this dangling carrot forces millions to think that everybody in their home could be a Tendulkar. People want their children to be a cricketer not because they love the sport, but it would bring more than they could dream about.<br /><br />Sounds cynic? Feels like I have spoiled the mood of the nation? If so, I am happy to do that. There should be times when unnecessary histrionics and madness of the public at large needs to be condemned, even at the risk of being branded “pessimistic spoilsport”.<br />Good luck to “Team India” for their upcoming upheavals.</div>Stambhithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570725231480312393noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28487955.post-3177785247346064782007-09-04T13:21:00.000+05:302007-09-04T14:39:46.709+05:30India's war against terrorism...<div align="justify">Thanks to the lack of any will (political or apolitical), citizens of India remain vulnerable to all sorts of terrorist attacks within their own motherland. We have a countless list of haves and only a single blot in the have not part – we don’t have any assurance of a natural death, or in a country with increasing life expectancy the life of citizens are cut short by non physiological problems.<br />The list of reasons for the unnatural death is long for India – malnourishment, pre natal negligence, pregnancy and delivery failures due to untrained nurses, rowdy drivers prowling on the roads – it goes on and on. Terrorism is the coolest entry in this list - an entry as destructive as any natural calamity and as mouthwatering for the political parties to cash on vote bank politics.<br />From Delhi, to Varanasi, to Mumbai, to Malegaon, to Bangalore, to Hyderabad – the list of cities under terrorist threat is increasing and if the latest statement from honorable home minister is taken seriously then Indians should brace for more such incidents. If my knowledge of geography is right then USA or China or Russia is bigger in size than India – yet according to official statement it is because of the vastness of our country that such attacks couldn’t be prevented. With all negatives to American adventures in foreign shores – no American life has been lost post 9/11 due to terrorist attack. A country which doesn’t give enough value to the lives of its citizens is rare to find – and as always all such records belong to India. How easy it is to blame the neighbors – even before investigation starts – to wash away hands off the responsibility. How easy it is to talk of resilience, to talk of being calm and composed and to talk of people being jealous about our progress and communal harmony. All successive governments irrespective of political ideology and power has shown nothing but callous attitude towards the value of citizen’s life – probably because a dead person is no more a factor in the voter’s list. Those hapless families – uncountable as they now must be, are left to the vagaries of the cruel liabilities – forgotten under heaps of garlands and hollow promises.<br />India has become a soft state and there is absolutely no debate on that. The focus has now turned into a grim reality staring in your face situation – how many more innocent lives need to be lost before the country wakes up? I am neither a knowledgeable bureaucrat nor a learned journalist – hence statistics is not my forte. But my simple question is – how much of it is a coincidence that till date, hardly any politician or people in the power circle have been targeted by the terrorists? The fact that they are capable enough to do that was proven by the attack on the parliament; hence their sudden change of focus is intriguing. I guess, by now even the terrorists have understood that government of India is only concerned about saving their own skins. Till such times when suicide bombers hit parliament or kill half a dozen politicians, none from Delhi would pose any challenge to terrorism. It’s an easy documentary – be aloof from such heinous crimes till innocent citizens are finished, keep garlands and speeches ready for such occasions laced with crocodile tears and blindly blame neighbors to avoid any meaningful investigation inside India.<br />Till even few months back, I used to think that I should be proud to be an Indian, but no more. Being an Indian was never my choice and given one, I wouldn’t want to be. I don’t want a life (not for me and neither for my children) where every step outside home could potentially lead to fatal separation, I don’t respect a country which gives a damn to it’s citizen’s life and I refuse to live just with the burden of a glorified past camouflaged to hide horrific present. Those gory scenes of shredded bodies, of spilled blood are not what I want to present to the future generations.<br />And how dearly I wish that I had a choice of choosing my nation – a nation where the citizen is not used as a pawn in the game of terror, where a child could enjoy a safe life and where people wouldn’t think twice before enjoying their life the way they want – a life colorful and joyous enough to be cherished and valued by every citizen of that country. </div>Stambhithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570725231480312393noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28487955.post-18028946137619235342007-08-09T10:53:00.000+05:302007-08-09T11:44:55.320+05:30Plagiarism redefined...<div align="justify">If somebody watches advertisements very carefully and on a regular basis, it is impossible for him/her to notice the fight of Bollywood against piracy. It says piracy kills the originality, that the lost money makes producers turn into their graveyards and that with every pirated version of a VCD or DVD we are only killing the original goose. So, kill piracy and save the originality.<br />Not so long ago, India didn’t have a full fledged patent law to protect original inventions (it had for processes though) and recent Madras High court order showed that there is a clear fight between original intellectual monopoly and pirated copy cats. Hence, if you believe in original version, shell out more to get such exclusivity.<br />I almost take that argument for granted. For Novartis, but not for Bollywood.<br /><br />On numerous occasions, I had an argument with majority of my friends about Bollywood and its quality. Without even a semblance of chance, Bollywood loses out on quality, screenplay, direction and script/story. The argument then shifts to an emotional plane – that “people need pure entertainment”. This is as vague as it sounds as by definition entertainment is personal and hence couldn't be the goal for a mass medium. That we believe in fooling ourselves and believe that some god send heroes and extraordinarily beautiful heroines would make our society livable is good enough to cast a shadow on our logical thinking. Then the discussion changes into “we” versus “them”. They are they, so why should we copy them, why should we not have our own dance and song item numbers and that by doing such great service we would be a proud producer of Indian culture and social values. Simply put, we can never argue with the emotional majority.<br /><br />But I would have accepted their emotionally charged, patriotic sentiments if I would have got some originality in Bollywood. From the day I remember, best and most of the mainstream Bollywood movies (or so called successful movies) are nothing but an “inspired version” of either some regional ones or of some Hollywood flicks. To illustrate my point I give below a sample list of such inspirations.</div><div align="justify">--------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Agneepath -- Scarface</div><div align="justify">Aitraaz -- Disclosure</div><div align="justify">Agni Shakshi -- Sleeping with the enemy</div><div align="justify">Ajnabee -- Consenting Adults</div><div align="justify">Baazigaar -- A kiss from dying</div><div align="justify">Black -- The miracle worker</div><div align="justify">Chalte Chalte --- Forget Paris</div><div align="justify">Criminal --- The Fugitive</div><div align="justify">Dil Chahata Hain --- St.Elmo's Fire / Reality Bites</div><div align="justify">Dhoom --- The fast and the furious</div><div align="justify">Dushman --- Eye for Eye</div><div align="justify">Raaz --- What Lies Beneath</div><div align="justify">Roja --- Frantic</div><div align="justify">Saajan ---- Roxanne </div><div align="justify">Satte pe satta ----7 brides for 7 brothers </div><div align="justify">SHOLAY ----The magnificient 7/ The wild bunch </div><div align="justify">/ Butch classidy / Sundance Kid</div><div align="justify">Tezaab ----The streets of fire </div><div align="justify">Jo jeeta wohi Sikandar --- Breaking away </div><div align="justify">Josh --- West side story </div><div align="justify">Ghulam ----- On the water front </div><div align="justify">Hera pheri ---- The sting </div><div align="justify">Humraaz ---- A perfect murder </div><div align="justify">Hum Tum ---- When Harry met Sally </div><div align="justify">Murder ---- Unfaithful </div><div align="justify">Munnabhai MBBS ---- Patch Adams </div><div align="justify">Life in a Metro ---- The Apartment </div><div align="justify">Bheja Fry ---- Diner au cons </div><div align="justify">Partner ---- The Hitch</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> (<em>Source -- </em><a href="http://www.bollycat.com/"><em>www.bollycat.com</em></a>)</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">--------------------------------------------------------------------<br />In such a case, where even the best of the outcomes are nothing but far from original, what purpose is served for the audience is far from my understanding. An industry whose own products are nothing but a duplicate copy of some other products, an industry which even doesn’t admit its reckless copying attitude or an industry which doesn’t have a scant respect for other’s originality and creativity – boasts of creating a platform for being the flag bearer of a country’s culture. For them “copyright” means – “right to copy” when it comes to foreign movies. That the numbers of critically acclaimed movies are mostly out of bounds for mainstream audiences and directors is a testimony of the stakeholders considering this medium only as a business and not as a creative expression. The very fact that Bollywood has been horribly poor in making good movies for children and comedy classics shows their incapability of creativity as well as originality.<br />Except the fact that Bollywood has produced most memorable music, songs, musicians and singers (even though personally I think songs are mostly a no no in movies, music should be the only expression) I hardly see any other benefits from this huge industry.<br />If it is an industry then its products need to be original and world class, or if it is a medium of expression then it should have a quality output – in my book they are neither here nor there. Fortunately they have an audience which is largely unaware of the beauties of world cinema and also entertaining emotion get better of their logical and artistic senses while viewing the products. It hates the English version only to gobble up the desi “inspired versions” for their entertainment purpose.<br />That the basic purpose of any industry is moving up the value chain has got defeated in this Bollywood story. Yet they continue to fight against piracy and unauthorized copy cats.<br />This might sound like a snobbish and intellectually charged statement but I support pirated Hindi movie VCDs/DVDs – as these movies are nothing but a plagiarized version of a better creative mind. An industry which thrives only on plagiarism deserves nothing better than piracy from its own customers – after all brand value comes only from what the brand itself stands for.<br /><br />P.S. – I am looking forward to the recent news of SONY Pictures suing the Indian producer of “Partner” for alleged unauthorized copy of “The Hitch”. Somewhere the Bollywood needs to be taught a lesson about respecting the originality.</div>Stambhithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570725231480312393noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28487955.post-86531678662607431582007-07-24T12:44:00.000+05:302007-07-24T14:36:27.545+05:30A Poetic Justice ???<div align="justify">July 22nd, 2007 would probably remain as a historic day in a few minds. When the clock ticked to 20 minutes past 4 in the afternoon the whole of Lords stood in unison. It was a moment when one of all time sound test player was leaving the arena while the other one was just entering. For the one final attempt.<br />India was reeling at 55/2 chasing an improbable target of 380 at Lords and in came the little master, or should I say, arguably the world’s best batsman of our era? The stage was set for him, to make a final attempt and evolve into a genius, to score that elusive century at Lords and save India.<br />But, as it has been in most of the cases, the expectations got better than his capabilities. After a tantalizing stay of 35 balls in the middle, the murderer of Shane Warne could not judge a simple arm ball from an upstart left arm spinner and the dreaded finger of Steve Bucknor sent him back on the long journey.<br />The scoreboard showed for the statisticians –<br /><strong> SR Tendulkar lbw b Panesar 16 (42m 35b 3x4 0x6) SR: 45.71<br /></strong></div><div align="justify">Again, true to its legendary status, Lords applauded the superhero, albeit for a different reason. They acknowledged the contribution this man has made all over the world in the game, the entertainment he has provided to every spectator even though they happened to be those unlucky few who always remained thirsty.<br /></div><div align="justify">So, in a career spanning over almost 1.6 decades (and still counting), Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar has not been able to get a century at the Mecca of world cricket. Not a very big thing to loose your sleep over, ehh??<br /><br />So what?? Would thunder the billion followers. There are so many players who have not scored a century at Lords. And how on earth could I still breathe without remembering those magnificent innings at MCG, WACA, Old Trafford, Barbados or Johannesburg. How should I justify my love for the game without remembering his service to this poor India (not in economy, in sports, any sport you could think of)? The burden on him is heavier than Hercules’s, age is catching up with him and my connection of Lords with Mecca of cricket – it smells about old colonial hangover man.<br />And I am not supposed to react. Because you couldn’t fight against a billion with rational statistics.<br /><br />So what if he doesn’t have a match saving effort in second innings (isn’t it also the responsibility of 10 others in the team?), so what if he is kind enough to rookie spinners but not to Warne, so what if he doesn’t have a triple century to his name and so what if he is only doing a shadow fight in the middle?<br /></div><div align="justify">In a sense, I find it perfectly justified that most of the present famous Indian cricketer don’t posses moments which every cricketer would love to. A world cup victory, a series win in Australia (against a full strength side) or South Africa, a brilliant match winning triple century at Perth, MCG or Barbados. There are so many of them.<br /><br />In my book they simply don’t deserve them. Not because they are not talented, not because they are not sincere and also not because they don’t love to win. It is just that we prefer flair against effective, percentage cricket. And it’s not only their fault. It’s a collective failure of the countrymen, of the billion fans and of the system. We could produce a few Sachins or Azhars but not a single Steve or Gilchrist. Because they are not entertaining, they are only winners.<br />And in sports, like in any sphere of life, to succeed you need people who could fight. They might not produce the magic wrists or godly off drives, but their ugly fight would bring laurels. We keep appreciating the entertaining brand of cricket and then hope that rain would save the day for us.<br /></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">It’s a natural justice that the famous quartet of this generation (Sachin, Rahul, Sourav and Laxman) retires without winning a series in England or Australia. It’s only but natural that they produce billion fans, but very very few moments which they could cherish long after. I am happily justified in describing those accolades showered on them only because of volumes and market economics rather than pure cricketing jurisprudence.<br /></div><div align="justify">No century at Lords for Sachin and Rahul? Somewhere somebody really knows the definition of silent justice. </div><div align="justify"><br />Or should I call it “The Poetic Justice”?</div>Stambhithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570725231480312393noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28487955.post-49403746005784331222007-07-09T10:03:00.000+05:302007-07-18T16:52:02.054+05:30Fedex monopoly chugs on @ Wimbledon...<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I am undemocratic in some cases and support monopoly in certain areas. Sports being one of them. I see absolutely no reason why should I fight for equal share of glory when I have a king who is giving me more than what I want. And yes, I am talking of Rodger Federar.<br />And ladies and gentleman, the 2007 Wimbledon men's singles champion is Mr. Rodger Federar. He has equaled the record for Bjon Borg's 5 consecutive championships which even the best form of Pete Samprass could not achieve.<br />And I am so happy for him and sorry for all those who thought Nadal could beat him this time.<br />For the statistical record, Federar beat his challenger Nadal in a thrilling 3hr 44 mins 5 setter - score line in favour of Federar reads - 7/6 (9/7), 4/6, 7/6 (7/4), 2/6, 6/2. But the score line says nothing about the threat that the challenger gave to the throne. In this particular match, Nadal showed how close he has come to challenge Federar on grass and in Paris he was unbeatable even by Roger at his best. So, I am a bit scared about my reigning king at Wimbledon. Will he be able to hold Nadal off for 3 more years? That's what I am praying on.<br />Make absolutely no mistake that I wanted to see Federar win and win it unchallenged. I don't like people taking pot shots at the crown and have absolutely no mentality of sharing it with a new champion. People might have a different view but I like defending champions. Champions, who conquer all challenges to etch their mark in history. I don't have any sympathy for those one off winners.<br />But I respect Nadal and I fear him a lot. I fear him because he is a successful challenger. One who for the first time has been able to push Federar to the limits. All those incredible returns, unbelievable backhand cross court shots, down the line passing and most fearful, reaching the ball every time you think you have just put it beyond his reach. He is an athlete par excellence and make no mistake about his Wimbledon title being just a few years away. And that's what I want to prolong.<br />3 more championships for Roger and he will be in the history book alone for 8 time Wimbledon crown. Unmatched and unheard of in the open history of tennis. I have never seen Bjon Borg playing those wonderful rallies and I was not there when Borg made history by becoming 6 time champion. But this time I want to see it with my eyes. And I won't like Rafa spoiling my party.<br />Come on Federar, do that much for me. I know, you could do it.<br /><br />But, I must admit that 2007 Wimbledon final produced brilliant tennis throughout for the spectators. In a gripping finale, with every passing shot Federar had to dig deeper and deeper to recollect his form, he had to rely on his devastating aces more than his placements (he made 29 unforced errors compared to Nadal’s 21), he had to produce more breath taking rallies from baseline to make it that much harder for Rafa. And Rafa matched it with point for point. In the 4th set he played devastating tennis which rocked the king so much that he asked to call off the technology of hawk eye once the ball was overruled long in favour of Rafa. He lost it 2/6 with 2 breaks down. Then in the decider he was down 15-40 twice and produced the brilliance of only his class (read aces after aces) to dig him out.<br />That's what champions are made off. When they face more pressure they bring out more from their closet, when everybody thinks he is tired he produces wonderful winning rallies from baseline and when everybody doubts only he confides in himself.<br />Tennis over the years have produced players of the highest caliber and this has proven enough that we Indians are not cut out for modern day sports. We are better at deducing financial gains out of mediocre playing capabilities. Be it any sports we have only breed mediocrity in place of brilliance and blamed it conveniently on the system. Without a hunger of a tiger, no system could produce players like Graff, Navratilova or Federar. We have simply no genes to support our credentials in sports.<br />And ohh, I just remember some people told me a year back that even some Sania Mirza plays tennis. Being an Indian I would love to watch her, but every time before I start viewing championships I read she is out of the tourney. Someone please tell me if she was good enough to buy a GBP 66 ticket (FYI, Wimbledon tickets for ladies final is GBP 66, for men it’s GBP 72) for watching Mariom Bartoli. I heard that both Mirza and Bartoli started almost at the same time, but according to some reports only injury forced Mirza go down and down in the ranking.<br />I believe, injury free players are a rarity but not players with hunger, grit and determination.<br />Some people also say that there are enough ways to make money other than winning grand slams. Till such time when we start producing players who could be watched with pure enjoyment and entertainment, we continue to thrive on mediocrity while cherishing wonderful moments like what we got on 7th July 2007 at the Centre court of Wimbledon.<br />Ale Federar and all my wishes for Rafa in the post Federar era.</span></div>Stambhithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570725231480312393noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28487955.post-30060139538388057642007-06-21T16:11:00.000+05:302007-06-22T14:57:03.737+05:30WHO will bell the cat???<div align="justify">Few years back Britney Spears sang - "don't preach me papa".. Now probably its time that somebody starts preaching his/her older ones. Not because there is a generation gap, but there is a black hole which would gulp all of us if we are not able to cool it down right now.<br />Are we heading towards a day when probably the next generation wants to discuss all taboos, secretly kept under the carpet till date? If the recent posts are anything to go by, there is a furor amongst the teacher community about imparting sex education among the students at an age till now considered being inappropriate for such discussions. This is probably a rare situation where the teaching community is feeling insecure about something which the government is trying to go ahead keeping in mind the danger that AIDS is spreading across India. But, this time again the "irrational majority" is against it.<br />As usual there are supporters and protesters in this issue and as my friend says "everybody has a right to protest". The neo liberals or the ultra modern liberals would jump guns because they think that it is of utter nonsense to keep something hiding from somebody just because of his/her age. The conservatives say this puts too much unwanted pressure of choice on that small head and also it won't be right to leave every interpretation to the mercy of an immature brain. Someone like me who safely passes staying in the middle faces a larger problem. This is of deciding whom to follow.<br />I mean, my biggest apprehension about this stems from the fact that the teachers themselves are unsure about the education. It's not that I rate teachers in India very highly. To be extremely honest, barring a few instances, where yours truly has been really moved by the aura and character that a teacher posses, most of the times they have been disappointing. This is without diluting the service that they provide to the society and keeping in mind the hardship that they have to face in our country. If the master is not sure of the path then even god couldn't save the disciple.<br />As a matter of principle and policy, I do support the sex education policy which is being prescribed by the WHO and the NACO. The fact of the matter remains that if we have to reduce certain taboos (which are harmful for the society in general), we need to break certain traditions also. It is a different matter that as a society we are still testing the waters instead of directing the action. But, the time is running out fast.<br />India houses the 2nd largest numbers of HIV+ patients (official record - unofficially, considering the taboo that we have, it might be much more than those) and also exposes a huge number of people to this deadly virus because of sheer lack of knowledge. People would argue that even the most economically and socially developed countries are also facing the same danger and so, there could possibly be no link between sex education and AIDS. But I beg to differ.<br />Not that I am very comfortable in answering such questions to the younger ones, but if it comes to improve their knowledge through gradual education then probably we have to start somewhere. We, for a long time, have been living under thousand such preposterous and irrational taboos. And it is not only related to the field of human relations or religion only - it starts from arts, cinemas, and anything which touches our senses but shows no end of this. Only today I was very pleased to read in TOI that some devout Muslim in Britain has asked for the "<strong>right to offend</strong>" which he believes is important in world democracy. Not long ago, we had nation wide debate about what is permissible in art, cinema and other such public displays - and what constitutes as unlawful in evoking sentiments. The challenge lies in handling too much sensitive people. The day we are able to move beyond the fears of such en mass moral code of conduct we would solve most of our problems.<br />I have always believed that, narrow knowledge only restricts the passage of fresh ideas and that is not a healthy sign for any vibrant society. If we leave the moral code of conduct to individual discretion (or at max as a family matter) then such transparency becomes easier.<br />I am for abolishment of censor board as it serves no purpose other than titillating the curiosity of adolescent citizens. How on earth could someone else judge my ability to segregate the good from the bad? What guarantee does he/she produce to satisfy my emotional and moral needs? I simply refuse to put so much faith and responsibility on another person on my behalf. Long ago, the best movie director that India has ever produced had commented that - we cannot make great movies on human relationships as we are forced to see the other way and we never give credit to the sensibility of the en mass viewers. I think, this is mightily true.<br />For long we have lived in fears - fears of antagonizing our elders, fears of offending our respected ones, fears about destroying the traditions and mostly fears about doing the unconventional. The result is there for everyone to see. We have a confused generation which lacks direction and motivation, we have teachers who are not brave enough to tell students the truth and we have society fearful of coming out of the closet. The suffocating wind has started polluting our lungs and not for long would we be calling ourselves living.<br />The fear was also there when we were deciding about our careers - we all played safe and did only what majority showed. Over a period of time all the energies flowed into technology and medicals. The result is dangerous - we have teachers who are basically people who had no other choice so took up this profession and then we have engineers and doctors who are nothing but a product of routine affairs. So, we lost on both counts. Now we are in search of a doctor whom we could rely upon, in search of engineers who could build this country and most sadly, badly in search for teachers who would take the responsibility of making us a great human being. All these because we all did what our brain whispered and not what our heart cried out. I am not too convinced about the pay off that we have generated.<br /><br />I know, I might have diverted a bit in discussing the important issue of imparting basic and important education to save our dear ones. But I believe all these are interrelated. As a nation and as a society we have been too deeply engrossed within our own world that we forgot to keep our eyes open. The saddest part is, we keep comparing us with people less flexible than us and think that we are doing more than fine. But, the problem in human psychology is that it doesn't allow compartmentalized emotions in a single entity. If you are not open enough about your own self then how could one expect you to be dignified about others views?<br />Its time that we start looking at things from a different angle and always keep the perspective in mind. This time again the majority is wrong in not taking the risk and as usual probably government would bow down to the vote bank politics.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">My only hope is to hope against hope and I am counting on my prayers.</div>Stambhithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570725231480312393noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28487955.post-19763338285847441312007-06-04T17:47:00.000+05:302007-06-05T11:11:20.600+05:30For you Mr.Ambasta...Post MBA syndrome<div align="justify">For the past few months time has been flying away and mind finds it extremely difficult to concentrate on any single entity, be it spiritually motivating or sensually intoxicating. However boring that sounds I could guarantee that some part of it was really called for. After 2 years of may-be may-not-be grinding that we went through this break was greeted with a vigor that went for a toss for the best part of the past years. Having said that we are again back to routine office-work-no work-time pass-TV-sleep cycle of eternity. Only now could we value of what we have left in Mumbai. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Some of my extraordinarily talented friends have already started to utilize their free or not so free time by posting extremely enjoyable yet provocative blogs on matters covering from head to toe yet beyond comprehensive ability of mere mortals. However I, as usual, being a left liberal, could not miss a chance to hog media light ("media" - in our own space) and reasoning about what are my stakes in the matters waving across the Indian subcontinent. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">The most heartening as well as subjudice matter has been the so called "hyper active" judiciary. This 3rd and possibly the most independent arm of Indian democracy has taken upon itself to cleanse whatever debris has been deposited in the political and legal space of modern India. However, this has come along with the suspicion of eventual high ground that judiciary holds. Even if the general public has welcomed this, the political class predictably has started defending their turf vigorously. The question remains for the long run. I know for sure, at this juncture, an independent and transparent judiciary remains our only savior - but for how long? In a democracy, the role of courts are bounded by the constitution itself and even the most ardent friend would vouch for its supremacy. I guess, the solution remains within us. To know ourselves , to organize ourselves better and to equip ourselves better for a tougher tomorrow is what I ask for. Irrespective of all the independence that we got, we are yet to fathom the enormous responsibility that our democracy puts on us. The canvass is dirty but erasable only if we could produce a forceful eraser.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br />The next big thing is unrest across India about religion as well as caste. India is clearly divided on these things along predictable lines. The danger is, as I have already commented is the lack of responsible shoulder who is educated enough to remain rational. With every incremental independence comes added responsibility which we conveniently bypass for our own convenience causing irreparable damage to the society at large. Be it a common man breaking law or a celebrity doing certain things for whatsoever intentional or unintentional cause - the result is the same. For the celebrity, only the affected horizon of landscape gets broadened. Hence, exercising restraint is important. Especially in a country like ours with half a billion illiterates and equally numbered educated lampoons the role of a celebrity becomes that much important. It’s the difference between a fault done by a follower or a leader. However, having said that, the idea is to try and distance ourselves from such religious inebriates in the long run. I know some of my friends might not agree with this, but as long as we are not able to put a wall between private religion and practising virtues, we remain vulnerable to political maneuvers. From Punjab to Rajasthan, from TN to Maharashtra everywhere I see the same story repeated time and time again to my horror. This only shows the importance of believing the fact that "religion is for human and not the other way round". </div><div align="justify">The sooner we succeed in this the better for us. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">The last point remains a very personal observation which we have always ignored. Last weekend, out for a SP get together, I came across a girl child selling flowers. This is a common scene across our motherland and the contrast she brought to those lighting's and bright canvass threw up some uncomfortable questions. If GDP is surging ahead, if we all are earning probably 10 times more than an average income, how is it that we fear to face these little angels. I thought of buying some flowers she was selling only to realize that I am a bit hesitant in reaction. For me, everything else about India and its shining armoury are baseless till we could bring a perpetual smile on such faces. Religion or no religion, caste or no caste my crusade remains the same. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Only and only if my countrymen could face this naked mirror. Amen!!!</div>Stambhithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570725231480312393noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28487955.post-60044524609570971832007-04-03T22:03:00.000+05:302007-04-03T22:43:15.916+05:30Farewell farewell...<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hgRuztCusJw/RhKHo0zlikI/AAAAAAAAAB8/2lfMT1GAC7s/s1600-h/Insti+004.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049247267675277890" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hgRuztCusJw/RhKHo0zlikI/AAAAAAAAAB8/2lfMT1GAC7s/s320/Insti+004.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div align="justify">As we turn to a new life and the parting time comes near, a thousand things crowd the mind. Some memories, lots of nostalgia to carry and some unforgettable ways of doing things to please the friends. A lot has been said and written about farewell and so would be done in future, but for everybody close, this would remain special for the tribute and toast. For those who have always spoke, spoke well, spoke with passion and fire and softly spoken from the one who has never spoken as he remained always in the awe of you.</div><br /><div align="justify">Best of luck, to all of my friends here and remain as you all are, notwithstanding the inevitability of scaling newer heights in the life.</div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center">The flame is aiming high with the last rites</div><div align="center">Burning continues, of the skin and the soul</div><div align="center">Tragedy striking down to create a distance</div><div align="center">Yet a happy and contended mind is watching</div><div align="center">For you will taste success and always fight</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><br />A chapter in life has turned grey</div><div align="center">Chapter with full of colours and pray</div><div align="center">As roads widen to create new avenues</div><div align="center">Making life more meaningful and bright</div><div align="center">With new heights, challenges and rewards</div><div align="center">This small past should remain green</div><div align="center">A patch of oasis in deserted battlefield</div><div align="center">To make us fresh and honest </div><div align="center">For the unknown way where you preen. </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><br />No stones has remain unturned</div><div align="center">All peaks visited and conquered</div><div align="center">Always bearing the sensation of Dejavu</div><div align="center">Scaling new heights and fearing none</div><div align="center">A toast raised cheering every occasion</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><br />Friends as they say, remain for ever</div><div align="center">And fare well after farewell is over</div><div align="center">For, the journey only begins from here</div><div align="center">In my absence there will be my prayers</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">If ever there is a dilemma or tough quay</div><div align="center">A moment where you find none in the bay</div><div align="center">Never mind and fight till you drop</div><div align="center">For with every step of yours</div><div align="center">There will be others who would gallop</div><div align="center">And when you think that you need a hand</div><div align="center">Just turn around to find fearless known faces</div><div align="center">Who would happily give their way</div><div align="center">For you to create history and win the day...<br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"><u>To my batch mates of PGP '05 - '07<br /></u></div></span></strong>Stambhithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570725231480312393noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28487955.post-32095960322987483202007-03-31T03:14:00.000+05:302007-03-31T04:06:34.832+05:30Obsessive middle class hypocrisy<div align="justify">If anybody with an educative and inquisitive mind goes through Indian history and philosophy, the self proclaimed 'wow' factor would be clearly visible. An age old mountain of traditional burdens, a closed society with unknown fear of unseen future and the incapability to accept the inevitable have been the hallmark of this so called great country and civilization. Indians take pride in their history, culture and what not. Anything and everything which is nostalgic has to have an Indian touch and if something is not praiseworthy it could never have an Indian link. My only question remains - <strong><em>whom are we fooling</em></strong>?</div><div align="justify">I have dwelt at length in one of my past blog about the double standards present in the Indian mythology and history. We always preach "Adwaita" and believe in twin theories. We have created 33 crores of deities and have told the world that everyone is same. Back home, we were the proponent of casteism and division of labor theory based on social rank. Sudras could not be equalled with Brahmans and they had a different set of deities to pray. Yet we proudly announced the supremacy of our bramhinical knowledge. To have such an open policy of flexible rule only shows our eagerness to maintain the status quo.</div><div align="justify">We projected women as source of power and used all kinds of heinous crimes to suppress them. We told god is neutral and clarified that he had to do certain things for safeguarding his favorite protege. Our roots have been in deep shambles of fractured verdict though we speak of unified language.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Politics, the next populist brickbat is another prime example. We have all types of political ideologies flowing like rivers and in the back office of power while they are talking of national project of river integration. Here, the left is more right than their opposition and the ruling capitalists fear more of the working class for votes. The rules at center and state are different for the same political party, the economics mean something to prime minister and something else to his cabinet, while the executives are a bunch of hypocrites saved only to follow the lords.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">This leaves only citizens to be fair. To my best knowledge, I have never come across anyone (including yours truly) who is fair, justified and rational. A south indian hates north indians in Bangalore but couldn't do without them in Gurgaon. East always believed that they were the unluckiest lot post independence, but never thinks of improving them on their own. Everybody wants industry, but exactly only at those locations where they think would best suit them. Indians say that materialistic world is to be denounced yet when it comes to decide social status money remains the sole deciding criteria. We are ready to discuss what Buddha or Christ did wrong but are not open for discussion about retrogressive hindu laws. We think politics couldn't be in isolation to religion but are opposed to theory if the religion is not Hinduism. We easily criticise Bill Clinton but shudder to even think about such things regarding some of our dear national leaders.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">The time has come for the referendum. For the people to think and think from their heart. To come out openly and unequivocally about what they want. If they want a progressive country then north and south has to speak the same language, west has to embrace the qualities from east. We cannot remain indecisive and ask for a decisive verdict from the political class. After all they are only the public manifestation of the society at large.</div><div align="justify">A decision about whether we need a rule or prefer anarchy to suit our individual needs is the call of the hour.</div>Stambhithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570725231480312393noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28487955.post-64302007834584435322007-03-11T03:06:00.000+05:302007-03-11T12:35:49.617+05:30Racism - here,there and everywhere...<div align="justify">These days my reading habits are on the wane. Its been a long time since I have given a considerable amount of day time to any book and had rather confined myself to unproductive, selfish but refreshing sleep. Technology, namely Internet, has been the sole companion to make me worthless (not in terms of information though) abuser of time. During these testing periods I came across so many wonderful creations (read writings) of my fellow friends (believe me they have extraordinary power of writing, god knows when they will write a book !!) that sometimes I gave a miss to a heartbeat. How I wish I could express myself so freely. The delight has been purely individual and the writer doesn't take any guarantee of wholesome entertainment.</div><div align="justify">One such post, deals with certain certainties in our lives and ends on a perfect note of questioning. Are we a racist? I am only trying to take a cue by exploding the term from its literary meaning.</div><div align="justify">What is race ? - "People who are believed to belong to the same genetic stock". If we leave out the term genetic and then replace it with something else (say age or mindset) then how much does the meaning change? A debatable question I guess. So, lets debate.</div><div align="justify"><br />The person, who is not a racist is either a Satan or medically frantic. Only these two races, I guess would not fall in the said category, rest everybody does. Why so? Why it is that I am hell bent on criticising and sledging the whole mankind? Because I am totally mad and insane.<span style="font-size:78%;"></div></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><br />A child, before he/she is born, spends almost 9 months in mother's womb. After growing up, the umbilical chord starts to weaken - in the name of modernization, in the pursuit of independence or for that matter under the pressure of career. We have globalized families but localized mindsets. So, if parents are a race (and I believe they are and that too an endangered one) we all are a racist. We are a racist of the highest order who have no time for their own genes.</div><div align="justify">A husband, an educated person with a successful career, leaves his family in the lurch or in the mid sea because they are incompatible with his lifestyle. If he is famous and celebrity then media runs a business on the scoop, if he is ordinary like you and me nobody cares. Either way, the family is neither benefited nor saved. Legal processes only prolongs the death or strangles the darkness. So, if family is a race, these people are racist. A racist of god knows what order - doesn't even spare his - you know what.</div><div align="justify">A modern society - a great lifestyle and independent mind. It has no time for losers, no humanity for "also ran" communities. The gap between the winner and the contestants is like black hole - It can only absorb and absorb. Infinite input and no output.Those who are left behind are bound to fall in the well. If they start screaming for help - shoot them down, scandalize them or laugh at them by saying they are incompetent for the competition. The best publicity comes if you pity them. You hold seminars, you organize charities and say hundred good things but do nothing. Even if you couldn't manage hell you will surely manage a Nobel peace prize. So, every individual in a society is a racist - a racist who doesn't want to be in a crowd but wants to be alone at the top.</div><div align="justify">A girl, in her teens, eloped with her boyfriend and it became an instant news. The family hits back - criticizes her, yells at her and even curses their beloved daughter - but could do nothing. The neighbours, till unnoticed and unknown jumps into act. They do everything possible to make life hell, create mountains out of nothing and starts pronouncing judgements. The verdict is out - the sinner girl must die. The girl is unrelenting for saving her love (even though she says she cares for her parents too) - so parents pay the price. Eventually all die or commit suicide - society makes sure of that.So, all such neighbours in the society are - you know what.</div><div align="justify">God is great - god is always right. God only helps those who are just and in the quest of truth. If the intention is correct and you are on the right side of god - doesn't matter what you do - you would be saved. Such are the sayings in the epics, such are the sayings in the religions. Whatever god does to save right has to be right even if it is apparently not - we are not enlightened enough to understand what he does. So, god, who only favors his protege can do anything to save him/her. The losers may fight it out in the highest court but the verdict could change hardly in favor of them.</div><div align="justify"><br />So, all said and done - we all are racist. You are so, your neighbours are so, your husband is so, your wife is so, society is so, I am so and above all HE is also so. Racism is omnipresent, omnipotent albeit ambivalent. A Brahman is a racist as well as a Sudra. Then where do we go from here? Do we revolt or should we continue the process of dialogue? Should we kill or get killed?</div><div align="justify">For me there is only one answer - either we change or perish, because a winning Satan might not be as graceful as Shilpa.</div><div align="justify"></div>Stambhithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570725231480312393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28487955.post-48405579583332027052007-03-09T02:00:00.000+05:302007-03-09T02:29:31.985+05:30Imported political ideology...<div align="justify">India is a land of wonders. India is a land of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">uncertainties</span>, of mystique and of great solitude. As Mr.<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Gurcharan</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Das</span> writes in his own submission - India Unbound - "It is an elephant that has begun to lumber and move ahead. It will never have speed but it will always have stamina." I am, for sure, as confused as ever and not convinced.</div><div align="justify">India got political independence way back in 1947 but took almost 50 years to start the process of economic liberalization. The political bankruptcy over the years has only compounded the misery. It is very important for any country to have confident leaders. When an ordinary person does something wrong it is less than half harmful than when a leader does so. Not because we place leaders in a higher pedestal, but as leader's wrong doing inspires the subordinates in the wrong way.</div><div align="justify">Out of many such compulsory trades India exported mathematics and spirituality but imported communism.</div><div align="justify">My friends call me a communist and probably a communist I am. An <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">ideological</span> one. The only political (or apolitical?) ideology doomed to be failed. Any sensitive and young person who believe in ideology and equality of human beings has to be a communist. An apolitical follower of the once famous "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Das</span> Capital" is only a mirage today. Indian politicians on their part has only compounded this in a unique way. </div><div align="justify">From independence we were a country not here not there. As pointed out in India Unbound we wanted a business community to serve the country the way politicians wanted, the license raj made sure a slow death of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">entrepreneurial</span> abilities of the society at large and created a corrupt bureaucracy to support the wrong doings. One of our leaders never trusted businessman and the other thought their money is needed but not they.So, what are we? A socialist state? A state who is confident enough to fulfill its citizens dreams? We were more draconian state than any communist regime (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">vide</span> writings during emergency periods), lacked planning and believed that state would do everything for its citizens even if they were <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">inefficient</span>.So, why blame only communist for their doings? When the rightists perform the same things they rename it as a "human face" but the communists are criticized as regressive and anti business. The whole model of 5 year planning is a complete fiasco and self serving failed policy. Yet they are regarded highly in esteem. Is it because they were not created by communists?</div><div align="justify">I do agree that communists made a blunder of economics when they thought that they can make poor people rich by converting riches poor. But <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">at least</span> their ideology was not flawed. They presumed wrongly when they overestimated the powers of state but were correct to predict the rise of the working class and the perils of raw capitalist regime. But what did the others do to rewrite history in the right manner? </div><div align="justify">As it is said - two wrongs do not make it right. So is the case with India. We were never on the right side of left and fooled ourselves by walking on the left side of the right.We were friend for both - USSR and USA. We could not decide between non violence and violence and in the process ended up losing in the partition.</div><div align="justify">Communism is comparatively new to India but not alien to its confused ideology. Communism puts enormous faith in the state so does the confused Indian socialism, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Marxists</span> believe in liberating working class and the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Indian</span> polity believes in making everybody economically equal. Thus, as we see there is not much of a difference between them - neither politically nor ideologically. But to our much delight and dismay, imported communism didn't work well here. Its track record is even more dismal than imported Islam.</div><div align="justify">However, the twin sister of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Marxism</span>, locally known as socialism has found enormous favor with our policy makers and all the loop holes of capitalism come out in political mouthpieces in the election years. As long back, Marx pointed out, "We see the great advance made by Adam Smith beyond the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Physiocrats</span> in the analysis of surplus-value and hence of capital. In their view, it is only one definite kind of concrete labour—agricultural labour —that creates surplus-value....But to Adam Smith, it is general social labour—no matter in what use-values it manifests itself—the mere quantity of necessary labour, which creates value. Surplus-value, whether it takes the form of profit, rent, or the secondary form of interest, is nothing but a part of this labour, appropriated by the owners of the material conditions of labour in the exchange with living labour." The same philosophy has been in usage over the years by all parties in India albeit in a slightly different manner. To create a democracy we needed opposition and hence we have them. They are neither ideologically different nor they are designed in a different manner. The only reason they exist is either they had an internal feud with the parent body for power or they harped wrongly on the religious notes. Hence, their <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">pedigree</span> is always questionable in my view. </div><div align="justify">To the extent that even <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Marxism</span> has been I<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">ndianized</span> and changed conveniently for the gallery, it has created a yawning disparity among the middle as well as working class. They neither had any historical baggage for India nor did they understand the local philosophy. Hence they crashed badly. In the race of power they became corrupt and opportunist and we kept equating them with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Marxism</span>. The gap thus created presented a big advantage to others, who in the name of socialism <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">traded</span> the same path with sure ideological bankruptcy.</div><div align="justify">So, after 60 years of independence we are neither here nor there. We waited for long on the road for the state to become self sufficient but took almost 50 years to come back to capitalism. We have opened up now but in every <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">election</span> year we still fool the masses in the name of socialism and equality. The result is we have neither a strong working class nor a mass of nation building industrial houses. </div><div align="justify">We blame communists for failure in Bengal but barring 3-4 states I am not too sure about the improved status of living for the en mass. And even in those states, the pressure came from outside, like the population, business class or like in 1991 - the point of no return.</div><div align="justify"><br />But, how easily and conveniently we bypass issues by putting the blame on those failed ideologies in the name of communism.The only thing we forget is that an ideological bankruptcy is more dangerous than a political one.</div>Stambhithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570725231480312393noreply@blogger.com3